Drapery fixture apparatus



FIG. I

H. S. ROSENBAUM DRAPERY FIXTURE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l a 3 v P, 1-

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INVENTOR BY L AMLQFLMM ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1958 H. s. ROSENBAUM DRAPERY FIXTURE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 mm on 5 J \m kn F N 8 mm mm mm mm wmwww o I INVENTOR E 0 KS ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,861,632 DRAPERY FIXTURE APPARATUS Application January 14, 1955, Serial No. 481,829 Claims. (Cl. 160-345) The present invention relates to a fixture for use with draperies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drapery fixture for automatically centering the draperies on the drapery traverse rod.

It is generally desirable in the installation of drapery assemblies to position the drapery master carriers in the center of the traverse rod so that when the draperies are closed, they will be symmetrical, meeting at the center point of the traverse rod. Prior to the instant invention, it has been the custom to center the master carriers by trial and error and even this laborious task has to be performed by skilled mechanics. Normally, the master carriers are brought to the measured center of thetraverse rod and secured to the operating cords at that point. However, it is generally found that slack in the cord or errors in calculation prevents the master carriers from meeting at the traverse rod center point and additional calculations and adjustments have to be made. The centering of the master carriers is particularly diflicult since the traverse rods are mounted such that the worker must work behind the rod by feel. Oftentirnes it is also desirable for the user, from an economical point of view, to mount and center the master carriers on the traverse rod himself. However, since the job is quite diificult and requires prior experience and expert knowledge, the help of highly paid mechanics is usually necessary.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a master carrier self-centering device for use in drapery fixtures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-centering device for master carriers that may be operated by unskilled individuals.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide. a self-centering device for master carriers wherein one of the master carriers is automatically moved to a center point on the drapery traverse rod and locked to the operating cord at that point.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a master carrier for a drapery fixture self-centering device wherein a locking means is adapted to automatically lock said master carrier-at a center position on the drapery traverse rod. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a traverse rod for drapery fixtures wherein the operating cord for use with the traverse rod may be operated from either side thereof as desired.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with. the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a rear elevational view of the drapery fixture assembly embodied in the present invention showing a traverse rod and the novel master carrier structure mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the operating cord illustrating the manner in which the operating ends of the cord may be interchanged;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a master carrier which includes a slip clutch and a locking device for locking ice.

the master carrier into engagement with the drapery operating cord;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the master carriers embodied in the present invention as they are mounted on a traverse rod and located in the position just prior to being centered on the rod;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the drapery assembly similar to Fig. 4 and illustrates the position of the master carriers as they meet at the center point of the traverse rod, a portion of the clutch operated master carrier being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view takenalong line 7-7 in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig.v

1, the drapery fixture embodied herein is illustrated and includes a longitudinally extending traverse rod 10. The traverse rod 10 is formed in a C configuration and comprises two telescoping lengths which thereby provide for adjustment of the rod to a desired length. Secured to the extreme ends of the traverse rod 10 are end brackets 12 which are adapted to be mounted between a window or door frame or the like in any convenient manner. Secured 'between the plates of the end brackets 12 are pulleys 14 and 16 which receive an operating cord 18 thereon. The present invention also contemplates operating the cord 18 from either end of the traverse rod and this novel feature will be described in detail hereinafter.

Slidably mounted in a trackway defined by an open side of the traverse rod 10 are a plurality of slides 20. The slides 20 are formed with depending portions having openings formed therein for receiving drapery hooks in the conventional manner, the drapery hooks being attached to the drapery sections which are indicated in Fig. 1 at 22 and 24. In order to move the drapery sections 22 and 24 in a closed or open position, a pair of master carriers indicated generally at 26 and 28 are provided. As shown more clearly in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, the master carrier 26 is formed in substantially the same manner as those master carriers known heretofore and comprises a plate 30 that has secured thereto at the ends thereof guides 32 (Fig. 7). The guides 32, which are formed with a T configuration, are slidably mounted in the trackway of the traverse rod 10 and thereby mount the master carrier for free movement on the traverse rod 10. Formed in the upper edge of the plate 30 are bayonet slots 34, 36 which are adapted to receive the free ends of the operating cord 18 therein. As shown in the drawings, the free ends of the operating cord 18 are knotted and are thereby locked in the bayonet slots 34, 36. Integrally joined to the lowermost end of the plate 30 and extending outwardly thereof is a shelf or flange 38 (Fig. 7) which extends underneath the traverse rod it). Joined to the flange 38 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a depending portion 40 which is formed with an outwardly extending portion that is adapted to overlap a similar extension formed on the master carrier 28, as is well known. The depending portion 40 is formed with appropriate slots and openings for receiving the drapery hooks and thus is adapted to move the drapery 24 in overlapping relation with the drapery section 22 when the master carriers 26 and 28 are drawn to the center of the traverse rod 10.

The present invention is designed to automatically center the master carriers 26, 28 on the traverse rod 10 without measuring the rod or manipulating the operating cord and, for this purpose, the master carrier 28 is formed with a novel construction. As shown particularlyv in Fig. 3, the master carrier 28 comprises a plate 42 to which is joined a depending portion 44 having an extension 46. The depending portion 44 and extension 46 are formed with appropriate openings for receiving drapery hooks attached to the drapery section 22, and theextension 46 is adapted to overlap with the outwardly extending portion of the depending portion 48, as described hereinabove. Secured to the plate 42 adjacent the ends thereof are slides 48 which are formed in a T configuration and are adapted to be received by the traverse rod trackway, thereby mounting the master carrier 28 for free movement on the traverse rod 10. Integrally formed on the upper edge of the plate 42 of the master carrier 28 is a clutch element 5-3 that is defined by a tab 51, the tab 51 having been turned over with respect to the plate 42. As shown in Fig. 6, the turned over tab 51 and the parallel portion of the plate 42 form a cord channel that is adapted to receive the operating cord 18 therein. Indentations 52 are impressed in the top edge of the clutch element, see Fig. 5 in order to form friction surfaces for the cord 18 as it extends through the channel formed in the clutch member 58. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, slots 53 and 54 are formed in the plate 42 adjacent the clutch element 50 and projections 55, 56 are formed on the plate 42 adjacent the slots 53, 54, respectively. The slots 53, 54 are adapted to receive the cord 18 therein, while the projections 55, 56 define surfaces for engaging the cord in frictional relation when the master carrier 28 is moved in an unclutched position, as will be describe-d hereinbelow. Pivotally mounted on the clutch element by a pin or rivet 57 extending through the tab 51 and the plate 42 is a clutch lever 58 (see Fig. 6), the clutch lever 58 being serrated at the upper edge thereof, thereby defining a locking edge for locking the master carrier 28 to the operating cord 18. Pivotally secured to the lower end of the clutch lever 58 is a lock lever 59 which has a slide 68 secured to the end thereof, the slide 68 being formed in an H configuration and being slidably received in the trackway of the traverse rod 18. Also secured to the plate 42 of the master carrier 28 is a lock spring 62 that is riveted to the plate at 64 and is formed with an opening 68 that is adapted to receive a projection 66 formed on the lock lever 59. The outer end of the lock spring 62 is turned outwardly slightly and thereby provides a finger grip for releasing the lock spring from engagement with the projection 66, see Fig. 7. When the master carrier is in position on the traverse rod 18, the cord 18 extends through the slots 53, 54 and through the clutch element channel, the indentations 2 and projections 55, 56 forming friction surfaces for providing for movement of the master carrier 28 with the cord 18 during the self-centering operation. It is also seen that with the clutch lever 58 disengaged from the cord 18, the cord may slip through the clutch member 50 provided the clutch member is firmly held from movement.

With reference now being made to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the self-centering operation for automatically positioning the master carriers 26, 28 at the center of the traverse rod 18 will be described. The traverse rod 10 is first mounted in the desired location, the telescoping lengths thereof being moved to the length defined by the window or door to be draped. It is apparent, of course, that the self-centering operation is normally carried out prior to hanging the draperies on the slides 28 and the master carriers 26, 28. Since the master carriers 26, 28 will move inwardly equal distances from the opposite ends of the traverse rod, it is necessary to initially locate each master carrier at the outermost position on the ends of the traverse rod. Thus, when the master carriers 26, 28 are operatively moved inwardly by the operating cord 18 they will meet at the center of the rod 10. The master carrier 26 is easily moved to the extreme left side of the traverse rod 11), as seen in Fig. 1, since the ends of the operating cord are directly secured thereto. Thus, in order to move the master carrier to the left, it is only necessary to .pull the length of the 4 card 18 that engages the pulley 14. It should be pointed out that the manner of securing both ends of the operating cord 18 to the master carrier 28 is distinct from the heretofore known drapery apparatus wherein the master carriers are normally secured to the operating cord intermediate the ends thereof.

With the master carrier 26 at the extreme left end of the rod10, the lock lever 58 of the master carrier 28 is released from engagement with the operating cord 18 by releasing the lock spring 62 from engagement with projection 66. Since the lock lever 59 is then free to pivot, the clutch lever 58 is pivotally moved out of engagement with the operating cord 18. The master carrier 28 is then moved independently of the cord by holding the cord taut and slipping the master carrier 28 thereover. With the master carriers 26, 28 at the extreme ends of the traverse rod, the length of the operating cord that engages the pulley 16 is pulled to draw the master carriers towardthe center of the rod. As described above, the master carrier 28 will respond to movement of the cord 18 and move therewith since there is sufiicient frictional engagement between the cord 18 and clutch element and projections 55, 56 formed on the plate 42. As the master carriers approach the center of the traverse rod, the slide positioned on the end of the lock lever 59 of the master carrier 28 contacts the edge of the master carrier 26 (see Fig. 4). Continued movement of the master carrierscauses the slide 60 to be moved toward the plate 42, thereby pivoting the lock lever 59 and the clutch lever 58 secured to the lock lever 59. When the center of the traverse rod 10 is reached, the slide 60 is forced against the edge of the plate 42 of the master carrier 28 by the master carrier 26. At this point, the projection 66 on the lock lever 59 snaps into the opening 68 formed in the lock spring 62 and the lock lever '59 is thus locked in the position as shown in Fig. 5. Since the clutch lever 58 is secured to the lock lever 59, it is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 and is locked therein, thereby moving the serrated edge into engagement with the cord 18 and clutching the master carrier 28 to the operating cord 18. The master carriers 26, 28 are thus centered on the traverse rod 10 and are operatively secured to the operating cord 18, thereby being responsive to the movement of the cord 18 for being moved along the length of the red, as desired. The draperies 22, 24 are then hung on the slides 20 and the master carriers 26, 28 and it is seen that when the draperies are moved to the closed position on the traverse rod, they will be automatically centered thereon.

It is frequently desirable to operate the drapery apparatus from a particular side of the traverse rod since a bedstead, table, lamp or similar object may be adjacent the opposite side. To enable the user of the device to operate the operating cord 18 from either side of the traverse rod, as desired, the brackets 12 are similarly formed as described above. Referring now to Fig. 2, the method of interchanging the operating length of the cord 18 is illustrated. As shown, the operating length of the cord 18 is positioned on the right side of the traverse rod. If it is desired to interchange the operating length of the cord to the left side, then the upper strand of the cord adjacent the left-hand pulley 14 is pulled, thereby causing the loop defining the right-hand operating length to be taken up. A left-hand loop is thus formed as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and this loop then defines the operating length of the cord. It is seen that this simple manipulation of the cord is possible since the ends of the cord 18 are secured to the master carrier 26 as contained with the heretofore known system where the free ends of the operating cord define the operating ends thereof.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may e. made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, an operating cord disposed in said traverse rod and a master carrier slidably mounted on said rod and operatively associated with said operating cord, said master carrier including a clutch lever for engaging said operating cord, a lock lever pivotally connected to said clutch lever, and a lock spring adapted to engage said lock lever in locking relation, thereby causing said clutch lever to positively engage said operating cord.

2. In a drapery fixture, a master carrier comprising a plate, a clutch element formed on said plate and having a clutch lever pivotally secured thereto, a lock lever pivotally connected to said clutch lever and adapted to move said clutch lever in response to movement of said master carrier, and a lock spring secured to said plate and adapted to engage said lock lever in looking relation therewith thereby locating said clutch lever in the locking position thereof.

3. In a self-centering device for draperies, a traverse rod, an operating cord disposed in said traverse rod, and a pair of master carriers slidably mounted on said traverse rod, one of said master carriers being secured to the free ends of said operating cord, the other of said master carriers frictionally engaging an intermediate portion of said operating cord and movable therewith, said second master carrier including a main body portion and a slide mounted on said traverse rod, said main body portion being relatively movable with respect to said slide during the centering operation, and clutch means operatively engaging said slide, said clutch means being movable in response to the relative movement of said main body portion of said second master carrier to locksaid second master carrier to said operating cord.

4. In a self-centering device for draperies, a traverse rod, an operating cord disposed in said traverse rod and a pair of master carriers slidably mounted on said traverse rod, one of said master carriers being secured to the free ends of said operating cord and the other of said master carriers frictionally engaging said operating cord and movable therewith prior to the centering of said master carriers on said traverse rod, and second master carrier including a first portion and a second portion, clutch means operatively secured to both said first and second portions, said first portion contacting said first master carrier at the center of said traverse rod, said second portion thereafter being movable relative to said first portion for a limited distance, said clutch means being responsive to the relative movement between said first and second portions to lock said second portion to said operating cord and said first and second portions in a fixed position relative to each other.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said clutch means further includes a lock spring for locking said first and second portions in the fixed position.

6. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod, an operating cord associated with said traverse rod, a first master carrier mounted on said rod and secured to said operating cord, a second master carrier mounted on said rod and fn'ctionally engaging said cord for movement therewith, and means for securing said second master carrier to said operating cord in a centered position, said securing means being fixed to said second master carrier and including a slide mounted on said traverse rod and spaced from the main body of said second master carrier during the centering thereof, said securing means further including a clutch pivotally engaging said slide and said main body of said second master carrier, said clutch being responsive to relative movement of said main body and slide to lock said second master carrier to said operating cord.

7. In a drapery fixture, a traverse rod,-an operating cord associated with said traverse rod, a first master carrier mounted on said rod and secured to said operating cord, a second master carrier mounted on said rod and frictionally engaging said cord for movement therewith, means for securing said second master carrier to said operating cord in a centered position, said securing means being fixed to said second master carrier and including a slide mounted on said traverse rod and spaced from the main body of said second master carrier during the centering thereof, and means engaging said slide and said main body and responsive to relative movement thereof to lock said second master carrier to said operating cord.

8. In a self-centering device for draperies, a traverse rod, an operating cord disposed in said traverse rod, a first master carrier mounted on said rod and secured to the free ends of said operating cord, a second master carrier mounted on said rod and frictionally engaging said cord for movement therewith, said second master carrier including a slide and a main body portion mounted independently of said slide, clutch means interconnecting said slide and main body portion, said clutch means including a clutch lever for engaging said operating cord, a lock lever pivotally connected to said clutch lever and a lock spring secured to said main body portion and adapted to engage said lock lever in locking relation, said main body portion being relatively movable with respect to said slide during the centering operation, said clutch means being movable in response to the relative movement of said main body portion and said slide to lock said second master carrier to said operating cord.

9. In a self-centering de ice for draperies, a traverse rod, an operating cord associated with said traverse rod, a pair of master carriers slidably mounted on said traverse rod, one of said master carriers being secured to the free ends of said operating cord and the other of said master carriers including a relatively movable slide and clutch means, said clutch means operatively connected to said slide and frictionally engaging said operating cord, said second master carrier being movable with said cord through frictional contact of said clutch means with said cord prior to the centering of said master carriers on said cord, said slide contacting said first master carrier and movable thereby and relative to said second master carrier, said clutch means being responsive to the relative movement of said slide to posiively engage an intermediate portion of said cord, both said master carriers thereby being locked to said cord in a centered position.

10. In a self-centering device for draperies, a traverse rod, an operating cord disposed in said traverse rod, and a pair of master carriers slidably mounted on said traverse rod, one of said master carriers being secured to the free ends of said operating cord, the other of said master carriers frictionally engaging an intermediate portion of said operating cord and m vable therewith, said second master carrier including aslide, a main body portion, and clutch means for positively locking said second master carrier to said operating cord, said clutch means operatively connected to said main body portion and including a clutch lever operatively connected to a lock lever, said lock lever being operatively connected to said slide and responsive to relative movement of said slide and main body portion to pivotally move said clutch lever into locking engagement with said operating cord, thereby securing said second master carrier to said operating cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,215 Brown Nov. 15, 1927 1,798,561 Settle Mar. 31, 1931 1,827,443 Toelle Oct. 13, 1931 1,855,037 Vroom Apr. 19, 1932 1,878,526 Kenney et al. Sept. 20, 1932 2,012,460 Vallen Aug. 27, 1935 2,097,907 Allen Nov. 2, 1937 

